LGC 18.1 - Stop Useless Traffic Enforcement Act - Passed

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Stop Useless Traffic Enforcement Act

1. Any Police Officer or Prosecutor in Lincoln is prohibited from issuing a traffic ticket, or any other consequence, for a violation of the speed limit, provided the alleged speed is less than twenty (20) miles over the posted limit, unless:

- the ticket or warning is being issued as a result of a collision
- the speed limit is less than 30 miles per hour
- The offense is occurring in a school zone, regardless of the limit currently in effect, and/or
- the officer is citing careless or reckless driving (or similar), and factors beyond speed prove their case.

2. States and localities may not modify speed limits for the sole purpose of circumventing this law.

3. Any currently pending court case relating to any matter listed above is hereby dismissed and expunged.

4. Any prior court case relating to any matter listed above shall be immediately and retroactively dismissed and expunged, and removed from any driving record.

5. Privately-owned roads are not required to post a speed limit, and drivers cannot be ticketed for allegedly speeding on a privately-owned road.

6. Traffic enforcement cameras that collect photographic or video recordings shall be forbidden on all public roads.

7. Collection of tolls will be forbidden on all public roads.

Sponsor: Dwarven Dragon
Occupying: Slot 1

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

This bill stops the ridiculous, salary-enriching act of low-level speed enforcement.

[Sirius_]

Why have laws if we don't enforce them?

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Why have laws if we don't enforce them?

Laws should not be enforced beyond the limits of where doing such actually postively effects society.

[Sirius_]

Why have laws if we don't enforce them?

Laws should not be enforced beyond the limits of where doing such actually postively effects society.

10 mph may seem small to you but that could make the difference between causing a collision or not. Thus the reason we have speed limits.

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Why have laws if we don't enforce them?

Laws should not be enforced beyond the limits of where doing such actually postively effects society.

10 mph may seem small to you but that could make the difference between causing a collision or not. Thus the reason we have speed limits.

At least around here, "The flow of traffic" is often such that it's actually unsafe to travel the limit, and many officers already do NOT punish a low level infraction such as ones covered in this bill, illustrating that the speed where driving becomes hazardous is notably higher than the limit that has been set. So this bill effectively formalizes the status quo so enforcement is equal and is punishing actual hazardous activity, without adjusting the speed limit itself, as doing that might push the flow even faster.

That being said, Amendment to help us all feel a little more comfortable with this:

Stop Useless Traffic Enforcement Act

1. Any Police Officer or Prosecutor in Lincoln is prohibited from issuing a traffic ticket, or any other consequence, for the following offenses:

- A violation of the speed limit, provided the alleged speed is less than (10) miles over the posted limit.
- A a violation of the speed limit, provided the alleged speed is less than fifteen twelve (152) miles over the posted limit, unless:

- the ticket or warning is being issued as a result of a collision
- the speed limit is less than 40 miles per hour, and/or
- the officer is citing careless or reckless driving (or similar), and factors beyond speed prove their case.

2. States and localities may not modify speed limits for the sole purpose of circumventing this law.

3. Any currently pending court case relating to any matter listed above is hereby dismissed and expunged.

4. Any prior court case relating to any matter listed above shall be immediately and retroactively dismissed and expunged, and removed from any driving record.

Amendment allows citation of any and all residential-area or collision-resulting violations.

[Joseph Cao]

Let me put it this way, speeding in school districts is still reckless behavior even if no collision results and the bill, even with the amendment, would nonetheless prevent us from disciplining that behavior.

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Let me put it this way, speeding in school districts is still reckless behavior even if no collision results and the bill, even with the amendment, would nonetheless prevent us from disciplining that behavior.

Technically speaking, every square inch of Atlasia is within a school district, maybe unless we're talking about some mountain in Vermont where no one lives. Boundaries are drawn in a continuous nature, so yes, a district does include freeways that happen to cross into an attendance area.

As far as a school zone special speed limit, most if not all of them would be covered by the amendment, at least when said lower limit is enforced (generally such a limit is around 15 mph, and the amendment covers any limit under 40). Of course, this doesn't decriminalize all speeding either, if anyone is going 12+ miles over the limit, such conduct can and should still be punished.

[CosmoKramer]

Speed limits have their purpose, obviously. Most of the time it's pretty obvious the limits are deliberately set too low for the purpose of generating speed ticket revenue for the state. If you're just speeding somewhat over the posted limit, it's silly to pay a fine to the government. Victimless crime 101. Unless you cause an accident of course.

[Sirius_]

It's always a "victimless crime" until it isn't. That's the problem I have with letting people get away with speeding. It may seem harmless now but it could turn deadly at any moment.

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Amendment Adopted

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

It's always a "victimless crime" until it isn't. That's the problem I have with letting people get away with speeding. It may seem harmless now but it could turn deadly at any moment.

Well of course, if there is a victim, the law has an exception.

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

A couple other changes:

Stop Useless Traffic Enforcement Act

1. Any Police Officer or Prosecutor in Lincoln is prohibited from issuing a traffic ticket, or any other consequence, for a violation of the speed limit, provided the alleged speed is less than twelve (12) miles over the posted limit, unless:

- the ticket or warning is being issued as a result of a collision
- the speed limit is less than 40 miles per hour
- The offense is occurring in a school zone, regardless of the limit currently in effect, and/or
- the officer is citing careless or reckless driving (or similar), and factors beyond speed prove their case.

1a. This shall not be construed to prohibit stopping and citing/warning a driver for some other offense, such as texting and driving, as long as the low-level speed infraction itself is not punished.

2. States and localities may not modify speed limits for the sole purpose of circumventing this law.

3. Any currently pending court case relating to any matter listed above is hereby dismissed and expunged.

4. Any prior court case relating to any matter listed above shall be immediately and retroactively dismissed and expunged, and removed from any driving record.

[CosmoKramer]

A couple other changes:

Stop Useless Traffic Enforcement Act

1. Any Police Officer or Prosecutor in Lincoln is prohibited from issuing a traffic ticket, or any other consequence, for a violation of the speed limit, provided the alleged speed is less than twelve (12) miles over the posted limit, unless:

- the ticket or warning is being issued as a result of a collision
- the speed limit is less than 40 miles per hour
- The offense is occurring in a school zone, regardless of the limit currently in effect, and/or
- the officer is citing careless or reckless driving (or similar), and factors beyond speed prove their case.

1a. This shall not be construed to prohibit stopping and citing/warning a driver for some other offense, such as texting and driving, as long as the low-level speed infraction itself is not punished.

2. States and localities may not modify speed limits for the sole purpose of circumventing this law.

3. Any currently pending court case relating to any matter listed above is hereby dismissed and expunged.

4. Any prior court case relating to any matter listed above shall be immediately and retroactively dismissed and expunged, and removed from any driving record.

How do we offer a change like this? Do we just post the same text with additions and such?

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

A couple other changes:

Stop Useless Traffic Enforcement Act

1. Any Police Officer or Prosecutor in Lincoln is prohibited from issuing a traffic ticket, or any other consequence, for a violation of the speed limit, provided the alleged speed is less than twelve (12) miles over the posted limit, unless:

- the ticket or warning is being issued as a result of a collision
- the speed limit is less than 40 miles per hour
- The offense is occurring in a school zone, regardless of the limit currently in effect, and/or
- the officer is citing careless or reckless driving (or similar), and factors beyond speed prove their case.

1a. This shall not be construed to prohibit stopping and citing/warning a driver for some other offense, such as texting and driving, as long as the low-level speed infraction itself is not punished.

2. States and localities may not modify speed limits for the sole purpose of circumventing this law.

3. Any currently pending court case relating to any matter listed above is hereby dismissed and expunged.

4. Any prior court case relating to any matter listed above shall be immediately and retroactively dismissed and expunged, and removed from any driving record.

How do we offer a change like this? Do we just post the same text with additions and such?

Yes

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Amendment Adopted

[CosmoKramer]

See below.. My additions in bold like how Dwarven did.
Oh also removed the "citation/warning" part, since cops can just make an excuse to deliver a ticket anyway.

Stop Useless Traffic Enforcement Act

1. Any Police Officer or Prosecutor in Lincoln is prohibited from issuing a traffic ticket, or any other consequence, for a violation of the speed limit, provided the alleged speed is less than twenty (20) miles over the posted limit, unless:

- the ticket or warning is being issued as a result of a collision
- the speed limit is less than 30 miles per hour
- The offense is occurring in a school zone, regardless of the limit currently in effect, and/or
- the officer is citing careless or reckless driving (or similar), and factors beyond speed prove their case.

2. States and localities may not modify speed limits for the sole purpose of circumventing this law.

3. Any currently pending court case relating to any matter listed above is hereby dismissed and expunged.

4. Any prior court case relating to any matter listed above shall be immediately and retroactively dismissed and expunged, and removed from any driving record.

5. Privately-owned roads are not required to post a speed limit, and drivers cannot be ticketed for allegedly speeding on a privately-owned road.

6. Traffic enforcement cameras that collect photographic or video recordings shall be forbidden on all public roads.

7. Collection of tolls will be forbidden on all public roads.

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

I accept the amendment

[Joseph Cao]

Isn't this bill about speed limits? We can discuss toll collection in a separate one surely.

Objecting to the amendment.

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

The question is on the amendment

Aye

[Joseph Cao]

Nay.

See below.. My additions in bold like how Dwarven did.
Oh also removed the "citation/warning" part, since cops can just make an excuse to deliver a ticket anyway.

Stop Useless Traffic Enforcement Act

1. Any Police Officer or Prosecutor in Lincoln is prohibited from issuing a traffic ticket, or any other consequence, for a violation of the speed limit, provided the alleged speed is less than twenty (20) miles over the posted limit, unless:

- the ticket or warning is being issued as a result of a collision
- the speed limit is less than 30 miles per hour
- The offense is occurring in a school zone, regardless of the limit currently in effect, and/or
- the officer is citing careless or reckless driving (or similar), and factors beyond speed prove their case.

2. States and localities may not modify speed limits for the sole purpose of circumventing this law.

3. Any currently pending court case relating to any matter listed above is hereby dismissed and expunged.

4. Any prior court case relating to any matter listed above shall be immediately and retroactively dismissed and expunged, and removed from any driving record.

5. Privately-owned roads are not required to post a speed limit, and drivers cannot be ticketed for allegedly speeding on a privately-owned road.

6. Traffic enforcement cameras that collect photographic or video recordings shall be forbidden on all public roads.

7. Collection of tolls will be forbidden on all public roads.

We indicate removals of text using strikethrough.

Also, just for the record, amendments (and anything else offered in this body) usually come with advocacy for what they do, why they're being offered, and what their relevance is to the rest of the bill.

I really don't see what (5) brings that isn't already covered by the bill, (6) is probably good but I'd have to check if there's already something similar enacted regionally, and (7) just is not relevant at all. Feel entirely free to change my mind.

[Liminal Trans Girl]

Aye

[Illiniwek]

Aye

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Amendment Adopted 3-1-0-1

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Motion for a final vote